Abstract:

Abstract This is a descriptive and exploratory research with qualitative approach, carried out in 2017, which aimed to describe and analyze the meaning of patients’ death for health professionals working in the Intensive Care Unit, performed in a hospital in Minas Gerais. Data were collected through semi-structured script and subjected to thematic content analysis. The following categories emerged: "Meaning of death of patients hospitalized in the Adult Intensive Care Unit"; "Emotions aroused in health professionals towards the dying process of their patients"; and "Complicating factors faced by health professionals when dealing with the death of their patients." It was found that the management of the teams related to this Intensive Therapy Unit should take into account offering psychological and educational services regarding the palliative care/finitude of life to its health professionals.

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